Orisports Team 17-Apr-2010 321
Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) edged out Sundargarh 7-5 in the floodlit final, via
tie-breaker to win the Nalco Cup State Hockey Championship at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack tonight. The champion side received the top prize of Rs 22,222, while the runners-up became richer by Rs 11,111.
Play in the 70-minute regulation time ended in a draw as both the teams scored twice each. Michael Barla (10th minute) and Sunil Toppo (50th minute) scored for RSP, while Bikash Kujur (26th) and Jidan Munda (55th) equalised for Sundargarh. Stalemate continued after the extra time as no side could score the golden goal. In the tie-breaker, Sanjit Kujur, Deepak Kullu, Mahendra Oram, Sukhvinder Singh and J J Toppo converted all the five penalty strokes for RSP, while Sundargarh could find the target thrice through D Munda, A Lakra and B Kujur.
Justice Madan Mohan Das of Orissa High Court handed over the trophy at the closing function. Orissa Olympic Association secretary Asirbad Behera, State Director of Sports P K Pradhan and Hockey Orissa secretary Pratap Satpathy were present on the occasion.
Earlier in the semifinals, Rourkela Steel Plant defeated Deogarh 4-3, while Sundargarh overcame Orissa Police 3-2, via golen goal. Deepak Kullu scored a brace, while J J Toppo and I Toppo contibuted one goal each to help the Rourkela side take an unassailable 4-1 lead. Deogarh bounced back into the match, scoring three goals through Pratap Nayak, S Barla and P Ekka, but only to end up on the losing side.
Play in the regulation time of the second semifinal ended in 2-2 draw with Bikash Kujur and Aman Tirkey sounding the board once each for Sundargarh, while skipper Bernard Lakra striking twice for Orissa Police. Sundergarh eventually clinched victory in the extra time. Total 15 teams (Rourkela Steel Plant, Nalco, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Phulbani, Deogarh, Bolangir, Mayurbhanj, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Angul) participated in the championship.
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Players of Rourkela Steel Plant lift Nalco Cup after winning the State Hockey Championship in Cuttack on April 17, 2010.
